Electrics & lighting
Whole house without power? Run this checklist
The house goes dark and quiet all at once. Before you start hunting for candles, two minutes of checks will tell you whether the fault is yours or the network’s, and who to call either way. Here is the order to do things in.
By the Tickover team · Published 29 May 2026 · 4 min read
You or the network?
Look outside first. Street lights off, neighbours’ windows dark, a faint chorus of alarm beeps up and down the road: that is a network fault, and nothing in your house caused it. Your house dark while the street glows means the problem is on your side of the meter, usually at the consumer unit.
The number either way is 105. It is free, it works from any phone, and it routes you to your local distribution network operator: the company that owns the wires, whoever you actually pay your bills to. They will tell you whether the cut is known about and when power should return.
| What you can see | What it points to |
|---|---|
| Neighbours and street lights out | Network fault. Call 105 |
| Only your house dark | Your main switch or an RCD |
| Some circuits still work | A trip, not a power cut |
| Prepay smart meter, blank screen | Check your credit first |
The two-minute check
Check the neighbours and the street
Dark all round means a network fault: call 105 and skip the rest of this list.
Open the consumer unit
If the main switch or an RCD has dropped, you have a trip rather than a cut. Our reset guide takes it from here.
Prepay meter? Check the display
A smart meter in prepay mode cuts off quietly when the credit runs out, including credit the emergency buffer spent overnight.
Call 105 if none of that explains it
A dead supply with a healthy consumer unit is the network’s problem to trace, even if yours is the only house affected.
Protect the fridge and freezer
Keep the doors shut. A closed fridge holds safe temperatures for about four hours; a full, unopened freezer for around a day.
While the power is off
Switch off or unplug heaters, irons, hobs and anything else that was running, so nothing roars back to life unattended when the supply returns. Leave one light switched on as your power-back signal. If anyone in the house relies on medical equipment, or is older, disabled or has very young children, register with your network operator’s Priority Services Register: it is free and puts you first in line for updates and support during cuts.
This is also the moment the home emergency kit earns its shelf space: torch, power bank, the 105 number written down. Cordless landlines die with the power, and some internet phone lines and smart meter displays go with them, which is one more reason to keep a charged power bank in the drawer.
The power cut kit
- A torch per floor, plus spare batteries
- A charged power bank and cables
- 105 and your water company’s number, on paper
- Blankets within easy reach in winter
- A wind-up or battery radio for long cuts
- Matches and a candle as the last resort, not the first
105
free line to your network operator
4 hrs
a closed fridge keeps food safe this long
24 hrs
a full, unopened freezer stays frozen
When power returns, reset clocks and timers and give the fridge an hour before judging its contents. If any circuit misbehaves afterwards, the home electrics guide covers the safe next moves.
Not sure what you’re dealing with?
Power off and not sure which camp you are in? Self-Diagnose asks a handful of questions and tells you whether it looks like a trip, a supply fault or a meter issue, and what to do next.
Quick answers
Who do I call in a power cut?
Call 105. It is the national power cut line, free from mobiles and landlines, and it connects you to your local network operator rather than your supplier. They log the fault, give you an estimated restoration time and send updates. Do not start with your energy supplier; they do not own the wires and will point you to 105 anyway.
Will my food survive a power cut?
Mostly, if you keep the doors shut. A closed fridge holds a safe temperature for around four hours; a full freezer keeps food frozen for about 24 hours, a half-full one for about half that. Afterwards, food that still has ice crystals can be cooked or refrozen, while anything warm and fully thawed should be thrown away. When in doubt, bin it.
Why is my house the only one without power?
It can still be a network fault. Each property has its own service fuse, and it can fail while the rest of the street stays lit. First rule out a tripped main switch or RCD at the consumer unit, and check credit if you are on prepay. If the board looks healthy, call 105: the service fuse belongs to the network operator, and only they may touch it.
What is the Priority Services Register?
A free support scheme run by network operators and suppliers for people a power cut hits hardest: older people, anyone reliant on powered medical equipment, families with very young children and others needing extra help. Registering brings advance notice of planned works, priority updates during faults and practical support in long cuts. Sign up via your network operator or by calling 105.
This guide is general information for UK homes, not advice about your specific property. Anything involving gas must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer, and notifiable electrical work by a qualified electrician. If you smell gas, call the National Gas Emergency line on 0800 111 999. If you’re ever unsure, stop and get a professional in — that’s exactly what Tickover is for.
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